The Macallan and Bentley Motors Bring Us An Innovative Endeavor Titled The Macallan Horizon
Since 2021 The Macallan and Bentley Motors have been collaborating their learnings from their respective industries to deliver uncompromised excellence.
Victoria Liotta
Since 2021 The Macallan and Bentley Motors have been collaborating their learnings from their respective industries to deliver uncompromised excellence. Both brands share a dedication to craftsmanship, creativity, and innovative ways of thinking as well as sustainability which is displayed through their recent project.
The luxury automotive partner to The Macallan, along with The Macallan themselves has revealed the anticipated design of The Macallan Horizon – an inspirational and highly innovative limited edition single malt whiskey.
Where Purpose Meets Creativity
When the two brands came together, they agreed on creating something that's yet to be seen all while staying true to their ethics of design.
The prototype of The Macallan Horizon exhibits a recyclable glass bottle featuring a unique 180-degree "twist" of recycled wood and no standing base, pushing beyond traditional boundaries in the world of whiskey. The vessel features a diamond-cut lid inspired by the eye-catching Bentley headlights and upholstery, encased in brushed aluminum, copper, leather, and sleek curves of wood.
Jaume Ferras, Global Creative Director for The Macallan, commented, "Taking inspiration from the automotive industry, we are showcasing our creative vision and concept development of The Macallan Horizon, which is among the most unique projects we have embarked on in our almost 200-year history."
Adding in, "Our collaboration with Bentley Motors and the knowledge exchange we have undertaken as a result has inspired us to see things very differently. In the spirits world, everything is upright, such as our stills and our bottles. When we looked at the horizontal direction pursued by Bentley Motors as part of the automotive industry, it made us consider if and how we could adapt this format for whisky, which ultimately requires to be poured.
I am incredibly proud of the beautiful design we have created together for The Macallan Horizon and the unique materials we are incorporating. It simply would not be possible without the incomparable craftsmanship and creativity for which The Macallan and Bentley Motors are renowned and is the embodiment of the uncompromised excellence pursued by The Macallan since 1824."
Six key materials involved in the creation of this innovative design have been upcycled or repurposed. Like we mentioned, the wood is recycled where as the glass is recyclable. Along with that, the copper has been repurposed, including from the copper stills. The aluminium is recovered from the Bentley manufacturing process, and completing it is carbon neutral leather from local Scottish suppliers, Bridge of Weir Leather.
Bentley's Head of Design Collaborations, Chris Cooke, stated, "Our prototype for The Macallan Horizon is truly pioneering in both its design and use of materials. It's a fusion of the sharply defined yet curvaceous Bentley design DNA, The Macallan's innovation and recycled materials from both iconic British brands. The form of the design has allowed us to almost treat light as another material in itself, and the interplay between light and the wood, aluminum and copper materials is extraordinary. In being both an object of beauty in itself and demonstrating such innovation, it's a representation of what's coming next from our partnership."
A Work of Art
The Macallan and Bentley Motors have built their image on a non-negotiable commitment to hand craftsmanship.
The Macallan was founded in 1824 and was one of the first distillers in Scotland to be legally licensed. Their foundation is among The Six Pillars which "encompass the strong sense of people, place, and passion." They are the root of The Macallan's experience of distilling and maturing the finest single malt whiskey.
Bentley Motors emphasizes The Macallan's Exceptional Oak Casks in which the whiskey matures. These casks are the single greatest contributor to the sensational aromas and flavors along with their unmatched quality.
The Macallan site writes "The oak is dried naturally, allowing the flavour compounds in the wood to fully develop. Each cask is then crafted by hand to our exact specifications. To ensure the oak imparts exactly the right amount of flavour and colour to our whisky, The Macallan invests an unparalleled amount in sourcing, crafting, seasoning and caring for our casks – a small price to pay for the finest quality whisky."
The Macallan Horizon, envisioned by Bentley Motors and The Macallan, will be available for your bar cart in summer 2023.